Chaney Wins Local and State DAR Good Citizen’s Scholarship Awards

Story By: Cortez Copher

Mena High School senior, Jillian Faith Chaney, the daughter of Sheli and Fred  Chaney,  was recently awarded First Place in the James K. Polk Chapter ASDAR Good Citizen’s Scholarship competition. Her essay was then advanced to the state DAR competition where she also won first place in the State of Arkansas DAR Good Citizen’s Scholarship program.

Miss Chaney will be honored in Little Rock on Saturday, March 21,  during the ASDAR Student and Teacher  “Celebrate Excellence” Awards Ceremony during the Arkansas State Conference of the Daughters of the American Revolution in the DoubleTree Hotel.  Faith will receive a large certificate and pin along with a check for $250.  She will later be honored at a  reception for the “Celebrate Excellence” award winners  in the Old State House.

Her essay has been forwarded to the DAR South Central region for judging.  If she is a division winner, she will receive a cash award of $500. If she is one of  2 national winners, she will be invited to Washington, DC to attend the Daughters of The American Revolution Continental Congress in June,  and will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship.

Other area student winners in the DAR Good Citizen’s Scholarship awards include second place winner Manuel Esquivel Amador, a senior form Cossatot River High School, receiving a check for $50, and the third place winner, Taylor Lynn Allen, a senior from Caddo Hills High School,  receiving a check for $25.

The DAR Good Citizens Awards and Scholarship contest is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. This award recognizes and rewards accredited high school seniors who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. Once a student is chosen by their high school as the DAR Good Citizen,  they are invited to participate in the scholarship portion of the program. This consists of a copy of their high school transcript, a  personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and an essay. The essay portion, administered under the supervision of a DAR member, must be completed at one sitting, within a two hour time limit, without assistance or reference material. The student does not know the topic of their essay until they are ready to begin. Each contest entry is then evaluated by three independent, non-DAR judges. The James K. Polk Chapter invites four high schools to participate each year:  Mena, Acorn, Cossatot River, and Caddo Hills.

The James K. Polk Chapter acknowledges the achievements of our outstanding area students and would like to increase the amount awarded for future Good Citizen’s Scholarships. Anyone wishing to donate to this scholarship fund may contact Brenda Cunningham, Good Citizen’s Scholarship Co-Chair(dar4brenda@gmail.com.)

Jillian Faith Chaney is pictured with Cortez Copher, Regent, Faith’s Mother – Sheli Chaney, Father – Fred Chaney, and grandparents – Yolanda Chaney and Danny Chaney. Jillian Faith Chaney with First Place Certificate in the James K. Polk Good Citizen’s Scholarship Contest. Submitted photo from Kay Dye.

 

Second place winner, Manuel Esquivel, with Brenda Cunningham, DAR Good Citizen’s Committee, Cossatot River  Counselor, Jill Hunter, and High School Principal, Mickey Ford. Submtitted photo by Kay Dye.

 

 

Third Place Winner, Taylor Lynn Allen with James K. Polk Regent, Cortez James Copher- Caddo Hills Counselor, Julie Young- and Caddo Hills Principal, Jason Whittaker.

Photo submitted by Kay Dye.

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